Speed-wagon.



Patented Oct. 24, I899.

G. W. WERNER.

EEDWAGON. ca ion filed @1 27, 1899.)

P t S m M 5 2 5 7 \l "a n 6 M I o N m 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

I uqzorneys v G. W. WERNER.

SPEED WAGON.

(Application filed July 27, 1899.)

Patented Oct. 24,1899.

2 Sheets-.-

(Nu Model.)

Sheet 2,

momma, WAIHWUYON, o. c.

GEORGE W. WERNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

$PEED-WAGON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,525, dated October24, 1899.

Application filed July 27, 1899. Serial No. 725,295. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WERNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Im provements in Speed-WVagons, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a speed-Wagon in which each axle is composed ofseveral transverse members, which are connected by intermediate bars orpieces.

The object of my invention is to produce an axle whichislight, strong,and rigid, which supports the wheel-spindles rigidly at each end, whichis easily connected with the body of the vehicle, and which is sightlyin appearance.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a speed-wagon provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 isa bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectionof the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the front axle in line 44, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front axle and the lowerpart of the fifth-wheel secured thereto. Fig. 6 is a detachedperspective view of the upper part of the fifth-Wheel.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the body of the wagon 5 B, the" front axle; O, the rearaxle; D, the lower part of the fifth-wheel; E, the upper part of thefifth-wheel; e, the king-bolt; F, the thills; g,

the wheel-spindles, and G the wheels.

Each axle is composed-of two transverse skeleton frames, which arearranged one below the other. Each frame has downwardlyturned endportions, those of the upper frame being arranged on the outer side ofthe wheel and those of the lower frame on the inner side of the wheel.The upper frame consists of two members it and the lower frame of twomembers h. The two members of each frame have their main portionsarranged transversely and horizontally, one forward of the verticalcenter line of the wheel and the other in rear thereof. The end portionsof each frame converge downwardly and are united at their lower ends toan car which receives the adjacent end of the wheel-spindle. The endportions of the upper and outer frame are united to an ear 2', and thoseof the lower or inner frame to an ear 1 The spindle g is secured tothese cars, and the wheel, mounted on the spindle, stands between thedownwardly-turned outer and inner frame members. The downwardly-turnedportions of the inner frame are preferably arranged, as shown, atthesame angle or inclination as those of the outer frame, so that viewedfrom the side, as shown in Fig. 3, the inclined portions of the twoframes stand in line and the 'two horizontal portions of the lower framestand correspondingly nearer together than those of the upper frame. Thetwo front members h h of the upper and lower frame and the two rearmembers of these frames are united by connecting-pieces h, which extenddownward from the horizontal portion of each upper member h to that ofeach lower member h, and by inwardly-inclined connectingpieces 7L3,which connect the outer curved or elbow portions of the frame members. I

The upper members h of the rear axle are connected by longitudinalbraces arranged, preferably, as shown, near the ends of the horizontalportions of the upper members. The lower members h of each axle aresimilarly connected by longitudinal braces 1, arranged, preferably, atthe middle of the axle.

The two upper members of the front axle are connected near the ends oftheir horizontal portions by longitudinal braces m, which carry theclips m to which the thills are coupled.

The members of each axle and their connecting pieces or braces arepreferably constructed of steel tubing and secured together by brazing.

The lower part D of the fifth-Wheel is arranged over the horizontalportions of the upper members it of the front axle and is secured to theupper front member of the front axle by a central footn and-to the upperrear member by feet n. This part of the fifth-wheel is connected to thelower members h of the front axle by two downwardly and longitudinallydiverging braces 0, each secured at its upper end to one side of thefifth-wheel and extending with one branch downwardly and forwardly andwith the other branch downwardly and rearwardly to the lower members ofthe axle. These braces are rigidly secured to the parts, preferably bybrazing. The fifthwheel and its braces form a very strong and rigidcentral connection between the four transverse members of the frontaxle.

Each axle is composed of an upper'and outer frame and a lower and innerframe, and each frame contains two main members which converge to andunite at the ear to which the respective end of the wheelspindle issecured. The spindle is in this manner supported at each end by two axlemembers, which stand one behind the other and brace each other fore andaft and effectually resist strains which tend to deflect the spindleforwardly or backwardly; The two ends of the spindle are thus supportedalike and with equal security and rigidity, whereby the spindles andwheels are securely supported in their proper position under the severestrains to which they are subjected in rounding turns on a race-track orspeedway. The members of each axle are securely connected and braced inevery direction, and can be made comparatively light without sacrificingstrength and rigidity. The load is divided between the ends of eachspindle, which also tends to prevent undue vibrations of the spindlesand assists in securing an even running of the vehicle. y

The body of the vehicle is secured at its front to the upper part of thefifth-wheel and at its rear to the upper members of the rear axle.

I claim as my invention- 1. A compound vehicle-axle having two outermembers arranged one behind the other, having their end portionsextending downwardly and connected at their lower ends, to support theouter ends of the wheel-spindles,

two inner members also arranged one behind the other and having theirend portions extending downwardly and connected at their lower ends tocarry the inner ends of the wheel-spindles, and wheel-spindles supportedat their outer ends by the two outer members and at theirinner ends bythe two inner members, substantially as set forth.

2. A compound vehicle-axle composed of two upper and outer membersarranged one behind the other and having their end portions downwardlyconverging and connected at their lower ends, two lower and inner members also arranged one behind the other and having their end portionsdownwardly converging and connected at their lower ends, connectionsextending from one upper member to the other and from one upper memberto the adjacent lower member, and spindles supported at their outer endsby the two upper and outer members and at their inner ends by the twolower and inner members, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a compound front axle composed of two upper andouter members arranged one behind the other and two lower and innermembers also arranged one behind the other, of a fifth-wheel having itslower part arranged over said upper members and secured thereto andprovided with side braces which extend from the fifth-wheel downwardlyto said lower members, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 26th day of July, 1899.

. GEORGE W. WERNER.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, CLAUDIA BENTLEY.

